Chain locking device



Feb. 7, 1933. J POTTER 1,896,592

CHAIN LOCKING DEVICE Filed Jan. 5, 1932 L Z5 *6 4 S4; Z a i. Z Z8 Is; I

gwue/ntoz J0/17z Paiie/ JIIIIIIK Patented Feb. 7, 1933 JOHN POTTER, OF ELIZABETHQILLINOIS PATENT OFFICE CHAIN rooxmefinnvrcn v Application filed January 5,1932. Serial No. 584,839.- 7

This invention relates to skid chain tightening means and more particularly to an improved lock and tightener for the side members of an anti-skid chain. I

An object of this invention is to provide an improved chain tightener and lock which can be used with any conventional anti-skid chain which will stay in locked position, but which can be readily unlocked by application of atool in the form of a screw driver or other fiat bar.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tightener of this kind comprising com plementary chain engaging elements with a rotatable connecting member connecting the two elements together so as to move these elements relative to each other into either locked or released position.

The above and various other objects and advantages of this invention will in part be described in and in part be understood from the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a detail side elevation of a device constructed according to the preferred embodiment of this invention partly in section showing the device in open or released position;

Figure 2 is a detail side elevation of the device in locked position;

Figure 3 is an edge View in elevation;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter C designates a chain which is part of an anti-skid chain, this chain G being one of the side chain members which has free end portions 10 and 11. In order to move these free end portions of the chain C together into locked position, I have provided a substantially L-shaped locking member 12which has an aperture 13 in one leg thereof for receiving the'free end portion 10' of the chain C, u this aperture 13 being disposed adjacent one end of the L-shaped locking member 12. The opposite leg 14 of the L-shaped member 12 is provided with an offset lug 15, this offset portion 15 being in the direction of the length of the leg 16 of the locking member 12. The leg 14 along its inner edge portion is provided with a notch or cut out portion17, the purpose for which will be hereinafter described. V

A second locking member 18 of'substantially L-shaped construction has a notch 19 in the leg 20 thereof and is provided with an offset lug 21in the longer leg 22 thereof. This leg 22'is also provided with a notch or cut out portion 23 disposed in the leg 22 adjacent the junction between the leg 20 and the leg 22. The notch 19 is adapted to removably receive the free end portion 11 of the chain C, whereas the free endlO' of the chain G is secured against release in the aper ture 13 of the locking member 12.

A pair of complementary operating mem- 7 0 'bers or plates 24 and 25 are disposed one on each side of the locking members 12 and 18 and are secured to the leg 14 of the locking member- 12 by means of a rivet or headed member 27. 'These operatingmembers or7 plates 24 and 25 are adapted to have movement relative to the locking members 12 and 18 and are each provided with an opening 28, the opening of one plate registering with V the opening in the other plate, and this opening 28 is of rectangular formation so as to permit the insertion ofa tool substantially rectangular in cross section so that these two plates 24 and 25. may be rotated orturned so 7 as to swing-the pivots 26 and 27 relative to 35 each other.- Therivet 26 upon rotation of the operating means 24 and 25 into locked position is adapted to swing the lug 15 to ap'ositionfor engagement in the notch or. recess 23 and simultaneously, the lug 21 will be swung into engagement with. the notch or recess 17, as more particularly disclosed in Figure 2.

In Figure 2, the line of pull or strain on the locking members 12 and 18 is designated by broken line and it will be noted in this figure that the pivots 26 and 27 are disposed one on each side of the line of pull designated by the broken line so that the tendency of the tension applied to these locking members 12 and 18 will be to continually maintain the lug members 15 and 21 in their respective notches 23 and 17 In the use of this device, the locking member 12 may be secured to the free end 10 of the chain C by means of splitting a link or the like which is passed through the aperture 13 adjacent the outer end of the leg 16. The opposite end 11 of the chain is then slipped into the notch 19, which notch 19 is disposed on the inner edge of the leg 20 and the operating or locking means constituting the plates 24 and 25 is then turned by inserting a tool into the registering openings 28 of v these plate members 24 and 25 so as to partially rotate the two plates and swing the two legs 14 and 22 into a position where the inner edges thereof will be substantially parallel and closely adjacent each other. In this position, the lug 15 will be positioned in the notch 23 and the lug 21 positioned in the notch 17. In view of the fact that the rivets or headed members 26 and 27 are positioned one on each side of the plane of the strain applied to the leg members 16 and 20, the strain thereby applied will maintain the locking members in locked position until the operating means 24 and 25 have been turned to released position, as shown in Figure 1.

It is, of course, understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is 1. A chain locking and tightening means comprising a pair of substantially L-shaped chain engaging members disposed in opposed relation to each other, a pair of plates, pivot means for securing the plates to the members, said plates having registering tool receiving openings disposed between the pivot means.

2. A chain locking and tightening means comprising a pair of substantially L-shaped chain engaging members disposed 1n opposed relation to each other, a pair of plates positioned one on each side of the L-shaped members and engaging one leg of each of said members, pivot means for securing the plates to the members, said plates having registering tool receiving openings disposed signature.

JOHN POTTER. 

